Sorting machine for statistical records



A. l-LDlcKlNsoN SORTING MACHINE FOR $TATISTIAL RECORDS Feb. 11, 1941.

Filed July 25, 19:9 .s she ts-sri'et 1 FIG. 3.

FIG. 2.

& 2fl0 3456 88 n W J) I, a e C n. 9 II u U27 p 1.. 21,, 2 man m" F mum 6c nan w 0N5. mi P mm 1 INVENTORI AT-TORNEY 1 Feb. 11, 1941. mc l NsoNson'mxe mcnmm FOR swxnsncm. nscoa 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1939 VY a on 2 INVENTOR f ATTORNEY 3 Shoets Sheet 3 :INVENTOR BY 4 v A'TToRNEY"llll al-l l j A. H. DICKINSQN Filed July 25. 1939 SORTING MACHINE FORSTATISTlCALI RECORDS Feb. 11, 1941.

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Patented Feb. 11, 194i uuiro FWCE mailer SORTING MAQHINE FQRSTATHS'K'KCAL RECORDS York Application July 25, 1939, Serial No. 286,447

8 Claims.

This invention relates to sorting machines and more particularly toimprovements in record controlled sorting machines adapted for sortingthe individual records in accordance with the statlstical data disposedthereon in the form of suitable index marks.

Heretofore, it has been customary to employ differently positioned indexmarks in different columns on the record elements or mediums forcontrolling the operations of statistical systems and having all theindex marks in the different columns formed in precisely the samemanner. For example, in the Hollerith system differed tially positionedperforations are employed to represent the data, the size of which areall the same in the different columns on the record cards. In othersuggested systems employing graphical characters on the record mediumsin combination with different forms of analyzing devices theconfigurations of the index marks vary but solely for the purpose ofidentifying the value of the data representing marks.

In none of the systems suggested have index marks of different patternsor variations been used for determining the value of the representingmark by virtue of its differential position and in addition thereto byvirtue of its configuration or pattern denote its columnar value orrelationship with respect to the record medium. In most of the systemsreferred to, wherein the different columns or orders of data are sensedcon currently, columnar segregation or differentiation is obtained bythe use of individual circuits or control elements, one for each columnor order of data to be sensed, which in turn control the connectedcontrol means representing and controlling the individual and differentorders ofl thedata accumulating or printing sections ofiithe machine.

It is now suggested that in the electrically controlled statisticalsystems, wherein different columns of data are sensed or analyzedconcurrently for control purposes, a single control channel between thedata sensing and data manifesting sections be employed instead of themultiple channels or conductors used at the present time. In additionthereto it is suggested to provide in the simplified and improvedstatistical system a novel combination of elements compriswhich areimpressed upon. the common circuit or channel connecting the said datasensing and manifesting sections. In this manner columnar segregation ordifferentiation of the data is obtained.

It is important to note that provision is made whereby the data sensingmeans is controlled directly by the index marks for creating thedifferentially timed electrical impulses. Light sensitive devices areprovided for sensing the index marks on the records, which devices varythe electrical pulses or currents in the associated circuits in responseto and in accordance with varying amounts of light to which the lightsensitive devices are subjected. Novel records are provided forcontrolling the light sensitive devices not only at differential timesin the sensing cycle when the index marks thereon are sensed, but

also for controlling the different light variations umn are alike, butthe patterns of the index marks in the different columns differ withrespect to each other. These index marks comprise light controllingrepresentations which are formed in different patterns having aplurality of light controlling portions arbitrarily disposed in theindex mark areas for controlling the frequencies of light variationsdirected to theassociated light sensitive devices, or stated in otherwords, the light controlling portions are arranged in the index markareas for controlling the changes in the amounts of light to which theassociated light sensitive devices are subjected. It is now understoodthat upon sensing these inden marks having different light controllingproperties the light sensitive devices are controlled accordingly togenerate electrical oscillations differing in frequency depending uponthe frequencies of light interruptions caused by the index marks. Thedifferentially timed impulses or oscillations of different frequencieswhich are generated are then impressed upon the common connectingcircuit for controlling the data manifesting sections. Appropriate tunedcircuits are provided with the different control elements for each orderof the data manifesting sections to direct the impulses of differentfrequencies to the proper control elements thereby controlling the withrespect to each other.

statistical operations of the machine in accordance with the sewed indexmarks.

Provision must be made in the suggested system just described forsorting or segregating the records referred to, which records areprovided with differentially positioned index marks of varying patterns.The subject matter of the instant application pertains solely to thesorting means adapted to be controlled by such records.

In this application, the control circuits referred to hereinabove areutilized for controlling the operations of the sorting means. The novelrecords referred to and described hereinbelow, and accounting machineshaving automatic control features for controlling the feeding of therecords and the selective accumulation of the recorded data, are claimedin copending applications filed July 25, 1939, Serial Nos. 86,444,286,448, and 286,449, respectively.

Means are provided whereby the sorting control magnet is not onlyenergized at the differential times the index marks are sensed, butenergized at such times only if the frequencies of the oscillationsinitiated by the sensed marks correspond to selected or predeterminedfrequencies desired to be sorted.

Accordingly," an object of the present invention resides in theprovision of means for segregating records in accordance with thedifferentially positioned index marks on the records and/or inaccordance with the frequency values represented by the index marks.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the-followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a detail view of a fragmentary sec tion of a novel record carFig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of one form of record analyzer.

Fig. 3 is a detail of a light limiting disk.

Fig. 4 is a section of the sorting machine showing the major controlelements thereof.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a timing diagram of the machine.

Control records Referring now to Fig. 1 one of the preferred types oflight controlling" records adapted for use in the novel statisticalmachine will-he described. The reference numeral Ill designates a recordcard similar to the type now used in the present Hollerith statisticalsystem which is shown divided into different columns as indicated at a,b, 0, etc. Each column is divided into twelve index point or markpositions, so that the positioning of the index marks at these differentpositions in the different columns denotes the different values of thedata represented by the index marks. The differently positioned Indexmarks are shown in the said figure and indicated by the referencenumeral H. It is to be noted that the configurations of the index marksin the different columns which in Fig. 1 comprise graphical wave formsor patterns are different It is to be understood that the configurationsof the index marks appearing in each column, but at different positionstherein, are alike. It is seen that the light and dark portions of theindex mark areas are arbitrarily arranged so as to produce differentlyshaped wave forms or patterns. The

' such as a photocell.

' is directed to the light sensitive devices whenever the card and indexmarks thereon are exposed to the light rays. It is well known thatvarying amounts of light are reflected by light and dark areas oncontrol records which are scanned by light rays, the frequency of thelight variations depending upon the arrangement of the light controllingportions or areas. It is seen that the configurations of. the graphicalpatterns at the different index mark positions in the columns differwith respect to each other,

and for illustrative purposes, assume that the configurations are soshaped so that the index mark ii in the column designated a is effectiveto cause fl variations in the light reflected thereby, or stated inother words represents a fre quency of If, the index mark in column brepresents frequency fit, the index mark in column 0 representsfrequency i3, etc. It will be understood as the description progressesthat the dif ferent frequencies represented by the different index markswill be effective for determining thecolumnar segregation ordifferentiation of the data represented by the index marks. The varyingpatterns of the index marks may be printed in black ink on record cardsaffording a white background for the marks, or if desired the lightcontrolling records may be made photographically in accordance with wellknown photographic methods. The record cards can be provided with alight sensitive surface so that individual light controlling patterns orgraphs can be formed thereon photographically.

Analyzing the light controlling records Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, and4 the method of and means for analyzing or sensing the light controllingindex marks disposed on the records will be described.

A lens system is provided comprising two lenses l6 and H to cause anarrow beam oflight to be projected on the record card it) from thelight source l8. A lens system comprising lenses l9 and is provided tofocus the light reflected from the record upon a light sensitive device2|,

Interposed between the individual lenses I9 and 20 a slotted disk 22 isprovided to limit the amount of light reflected and projected from thecard to the photocell. It is understood now, that, if a record cardprovided with differently shaped patterns at different index markpositions is fed past the sensing station described, the amount of lightreflected and transmitted to the photocell will pulsate or vary exactlyin accordance with the pattern of light and dark portions of the indexmark sensed. If the photocell is connected in a closed circuit, thevarying amounts of. light projected thereon will cause a correspondingpulsating current to flow therein, the frequency of which willcorrespond to the frequency of the variations in the light caused by thesensed index mark. It is obvious that the varying amounts of light aredirected to the photocell only at the particular timed intervals theindex marks are fed past the said beam of light. The position where thesaid beam of light is projected upon the card will be referred to as thedata sensing position.

, 29 which engage and slide the link 51, which In Fig. 4 the referencecharacter 25 designates an assembly comprising the lens it and H and asuitable housing or case which assembly is fixed in the insulating block26. Similarly, the lens l9 and 20, and disk 22 with a suitable hous ingare designated 27 which assembly also is fixed in the said block. Thelight source it is disposed within block 25 directly above the firstmentioned lens system and inserted in a suit able socket 28 providedwith conducting rods along the conducting rails 3!! whenever the block26 is positioned from one columnar position to another. The said conducting rails are secured to a suitable insulating member 3i which inturn is fastened to the frame of the machine. A second pair ofconducting rods is provided to afford a connection to the photocell 2iwhich receives the light toflected from the record by means of the lenslit and 2!] and a light conducting member such as the quartz rod 33. Theinsulating block as or carriage is slidably supported by the square bar35; which extends across the machine and can be fastened to the s deframes thereof. Also, journaled in the side frames is the worm shaft 35which engages the partial nut 36 secured in the block 26. By means of asuitable crank the worm shaft can be rotated to set the car riage to anydesired columnar position for effooting the sensing of the index marksin the selected columnar positions.

Record sorting means The mechanical features embodied in the presentinvention are predicated upon the principles described in U. S. PatentsNos. 1,982,216 and 1,933,357. For this reason the following briefdescription is deemed suflicient. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, themotor 58 which drives the sorting mechanism by gearing not shown isstarted by depressing a start key El to complete a circuit fromconductor 52 to contacts 53 of the start key, relays Rl, R2, and R55 toconductor 54 energizing the said relays. Closure of contacts RZCL andR341 connect the motor terminals to the power supply conductor to startthe motor. A holding circuit is then established from con-= ductor 52 tocontacts 651:. (the usual card lever contacts), contacts 66 of the stopkey, contacts Rla to relays Rl to R3 and conductor 5% thereby effectingcontinuous operation of the machine.

The records it] are fed from the magazine by means of a picker 55actuated by the slotted arm 56 which is oscillated once each machinecycle by a crank pin 58 on the disk 59 through link is pivoted to boththe crank pin and the slotted arm. The disk as is fixed to a shaft fillwhich is driven by any suitable means by means of the motor. A recordremoved by the picker mechanism from the magazine is brought between thefirst set or feed rolls and carried to the left far enough for similarfeed rolls l3 and i l to grip the record and advance it to theappropriate sorting pocket (one of which is shown at El).

The sensing means described hereinabove is positioned between the pairsof feed rolls i2 and l3 to sense the differentially positioned indexmarks in the desired columns of the records. The guide blades 62 restupon an armature associated with the control magnet 6 3. The ends of theguide blades are so spaced relative to the sensing means so that theindex marks on the records are sensed at the instances the left edges ofthe record underlies the end of the guide blade corresponding to thatindex mark position. Each guide blade leads to a sorting pocket which isdesigned to accumulate all of the records having a given index mark inthe column analyzed, providing the index mark is formed with apredetermined pattern or wave form. The usual provision ing pocket foreach index mark position on the record and an additional reject pocket.The first blade on the right corresponds to the f9 pocket, the next tothe 8 pocket, etc.

In view of the description hereinabove, it is understood now that as thedifferently shaped index marks are fed past the sensing positionphotocell ii is subjected to light variations in accordance with thepatterns of the index marks at the differential times the said indexmarks appear at the sensing position. Now, whenever the photocell 2i,which is connected to the input of the amplifier unit generallydesignated 65 is subjected to such light variations, the said cell iseffective to control the conductivity ofthe amplifier so that electricaloscillations of frequencies corresponding to the frequencies of thelight variations impressed upon the cell are caused to flow in theoutput circuit of the arnplifier which includes the primary winding ofthe transformer til. To each or" the secondary windings of the saidtransformer suitable filtering and rectifying units are connected whichare represented generally by the reference characters er andrespectively. Each of the filters at are so adjusted that only onefrequency of the multiirequency oscillations is passed by each filterwhich in turn is impressed upon the connected rectifying and the commonamplifying unit will to effect energization of the control relay iswhich is included in the output of the amplifier unit.

Now, assume that the sensing means is properly positioned for sensing adesired columnar position on the records and that the index marks onsome of the records in the selected column are formed to representfrequency fl, that some index marks in the same column on other recordsare formed to represent frequencies f2 and f3. Furthermore, assume thatit is desired to segregate only those records which have the inden marksformed to represent frequencies fl and f3. For these conditions thefilter units tuned for frequencies fl and it are connected to thesecondary windings of the transformer 66. Now, as the oscillations offrequencies fl and iii are initiated by the sensed index marks theseoscillations are passed by the said filters to be impressed upon therelated rectifying units and thence upon the common amplifier unit toenergize relay Rd at the particular timed intervals the index marks aresensed. All other index marks initiating oscillations of differentfrequensites are blocked by the filter units and present theseoscillations to effect energization of relay n3 "Upon energization ofthe said relay contacts R611. are closed, and a circuit is completed tothe sorting control magnet 6 3 when the contacts Eula are closed at atimed interval when the column selector it is effective to beconductive. is well known in the art that the colun selector lo can beset to represent any des index mark position and is effective tocornpletethe circuit connected thereto only at a interval representativeof the selected index mark position. Now, Whenever the indeX' markssensed initiate oscillations of the selected frequencies and at thetimed intervals for repreis to provide a sortthe invention as applied toit will be understood that various omissions and senting the index markposition for which the column selector is set a circuit is completedfrom conductor 52 to the impulse distributor 1|, column selector 10,contacts Rda, relay R5, and sorting magnet 64 to conductor 54 energizingthe said relay and magnet.

A holding circuit is then established through the conducting ring Cl,contacts R5a, relay R5 and magnet 64 to conductor 54 which is maintainedenergized until near the end of the machine cycle (see timing chart).Energization of While there has been shown and described and pointed outthe fundamental novel features of What is claimed is: 1. In a sortingmachine of the character described controlled by records bearingdifferenpredetermined frequency values.

2 In a sorting machine of the character dethe sensed index marks.

In a sorting machine scribed co trolled by records tially positionedstant speed, means for sensing the index marl positions on each of lightdirected thereto, which-light rays are modified by the light marks.

4. In a sorting machine of the character described gating the generatedoscillations of difierent frequency values, and means conjointlycontrolle by the sensing and segregating means for conthe machineoperations and operated at differential times in accordance with thepositions'and frequency values of the index marks on the records. v 7.In a statistical machine controlled by rec ords bearing difierentiallypositioned index marks, the relative positioning thereof representingthe different data values, said index marks being formed to representdifierent frequency values in accordance with their formations, asensing station, means for feeding the records past the sensing "stationat a constant speed, means for sensing the index mark positions on eachrecord for determining the different data values of the index marks onthe records including means for determining the frequency valuesrepresented by the sensed index marks, and means controlled selectivelyby the sensing means for controlling the machine diiferential times inaccordance with the data values of the sensed index marks includingmeans said controlled means effective the frequency for rendering theselectively in accordance with values of the sensed index marks.

machine controlled by tea- 8. In a statistical sensing station at ordsbearing differentially positioned index marks, having different lightcontrolling properties, the relative positioning thereof representingthe difierent values of the data, tion, means for feeding the recordspast the a constant speed-means for sensing the index mark positions oneach record for determining the different positions of the marks on therecords comprising a light source and light responsive means, said lightresponsive means'being conditioned by the rays of 11 directed thereto,which rays are modified by the light controlling properties of the indexmarks, means controlled by the sensing means for gen.- eratingoscillations of different frequencies in accordance with theconditioning of the light responsive means at the different times theindex marks are sensed, and means selectively controlled by theoscillations generated at the diflerential times, in accordance with thevalues of the index marks for controlling the machine including means:for rendering the controlled means effective selectively in accordancewith the frequency values of the oscillations initiated by the sensedindex marks.

, ARTHUR H. Dickinson.

controlled by the.

